The ancient rider

I got serious about bicycling in 1978, shortly after the death of my father. Though I had ridden bicycles off and on for years, my first seriously good bike was one built to my specifications in May, 1978 at the then small Colnago factory in Cambiago, Italy. Before the bike went into semi-retirement in 2002, I had rolled up more than 115,000 miles on its frame. I took it on a spin in June, 2009, and it rides just as nicely as it did when new 32 years ago, though the human engine has shown lots of wear and tear and has lost much of its power over the years.

As I write this, I am 81, so those years of riding 5,000 to 9,000 miles are behind me. I still ride most days when our Northwest weather will permit it.